GP issues warning over 'silent killer' that puts people at risk of deadly stroke

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A GP has warned patients to look out for a "silent killer" health condition that puts them at risk of serious illnesses.High blood pressure is a common condition that affects one in four adults worldwide.

Known as hypertension, it can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack and dementia. According to the NHS, if your blood pressure is too high, it can put extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.One GP has warned that the condition often comes with no symptoms, eventually leading to a "catastrophic event" such as a stroke.Dr Raj Bethapudi, who works at the Galleries Medical Practice in Washington, told ChronicleLive: "Prevention doesn't often grab the headlines, but this is worth shouting about.

Our practices are leading the way and saving lives – and we want to save more. "Hypertension is a silent killer because there are usually no symptoms, until a catastrophic event like a stroke or heart attack.

But it's very treatable – so both patients and health professionals can make a real difference and reduce the risk. We've still got a long way to go – our next target is to reach 77 per cent, but we want to go further than that." Dr Bethapudi added that his key advice was to find out if you have an issue and then make lifestyle changes to get your blood pressure down.